This online version of Johnson's Dictionary (1756) was put together by whichenglish.com and the author of The Joy of English.

It was produced by combining OCR and sophisticated GREP, in addition to pure, time-consuming search-and-replace grunt for formatting and clean-up. It is by no means a clean, perfect text reproduction (yet) but it is an ongoing project. The sheer volume of code behind these pages (137,000 lines of code) means that there is only so much one man can do. The overall integrity of the contents of the dictionary is here.

A few notes about this online version of the dictionary. First, it is not perfect. Most of the 47,000 headwords will be highlighted in bold and each definition in separate p-tags. Many did not succeed during conversion and the sheer volume of entries prohibits be from doing them all manually one by one. Second, not every word came out accurately in the OCR process and so many definitions will have garbled words and entries. Again, the volume here means that the time it would take to fix manually would be enormous. At present it is not just feasible for one person (me) to clean up. Third, not ALL of the entries ARE actually garbled. This is because the spelling of the 1700s was different from what we recognize today. The most notable difference here is the letter s, printed at the time as ſ because it is a long s. So, instead of appearing as sensual. Samuel Johnson's Dictionary rendered it as ſenſual. So these are not mistakes – it just takes a little getting your head round it.

Today's letter s was at the time of printing Johnson's Dictionary typically rendered ſ. So, sounds looks on these pages as ſounds, English looks like Engliſh. This is not mistake. Equally italic long s looks like Shakʃpeare in the word Shakespeare.

As you can see from these 18th-century chiselled gravestones, the f (left) and long s (right, between i and h) are distinctly different. So, please don't be offended if you see ſuck, it is merely 18th-century suck.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy browsing. Jesse.

This page last updated: 20 October 2014

N.

N. A ſemivowel; has in Engliſh an
invariable ſound: as, no, name,
net; it is ſometimes after m almoſt:
ſoſt; as, condemn, contemn.

To NAB. v. ſ. [nappa, Swediſh.] To catch
unexpectedly.

NADIR. ʃ. [Arabick.] The point under
foot directly oppoſite to the zenith. Creech.

NAIL. ʃ. [ncEft, Saxon.]
1. The horny ſubſtance at the ends of the
fingers and toes. Dryden.
2. The talons of birds and beaſts.
3. A ſpike of metal by which things are
faſtened together.
4. A Stud ; a boſs,
5. A kind of meaſure ; two inches and a
quarter.
6. On the nail. Readily; immediately ; without delay. Swift.

To NAIL. v. a.
1. To faſten with nails. Milton.
2. To ſtud with nails. Dryden.

To NAP. v. a. [hnceppan, Saxon.] To
Ileep ; to be drowſy or ſecure. Hudibras. CireTc.
4. M a NAP£.

Johnson's Dictionary 1756 @ whichenglish.com

N A R

NAPE. ʃ. The joint of the neck behmc!. Bacon.

NA'PERY. ʃ. [naperia, Italian.] Tablelinen.

NA'PHEW. ʃ. [tjapui, Latin.] An herb.

NA'PHTHA. ʃ. [njphtha, Latin.] Napbtba
is a very pure, clear, and thin mineral
fluid, of a very pale yellow, with a cart of
brown in it. It is ſoft and oily to the
touch, of a ſharp and unpleaſing taſte, and
of a briſk and penetrating ſmell ; of the
bituminous kind. It is extremely ready to
take fire. It is principally uſed externally
in paralytick cafes.

To NA'RROW. v. a.
1. To dimimih with reſpect to breadth. Brown. Templ,

NAT
2. To contract ; to impair in dignity. Locke.
3. To contract in ſentiment. Pope. .
4. To confine ; to limit. Watts.
5. [In farriery.] A horſe is ſaid to narretv,
when he does not take ground enough.

NEE 3^ E G
1. The part between the head and body.Shakʃpeare.
2. A long narrow part. Bacon.
3. On the r.eck
-J
immediately after.Shakʃpeare.
4. To break the neck of an aftiir ; to
hinder any thing being done ; or, to do
do more than hair.

NECROMANCER. ʃ. [vsjcp^- and ixmH',.'[
to pierce death, and perforated at the other
to receive the thread. Dryden.
2. The ſmall Heel bar which in the mariners
compaſs ſtands regular!) north and
fouth. Burnet.

NEE'DLE-FISH. ʃ. [needU and fip.] A
kind of lea fiſh. Ji ooJ-ward.

NEE'DLEFUL. ʃ. [needh and /-//.] As
muLh thread as is generally put at one time
in tl.;.- .-edie,

NE'GATIVE. a. [ncgc:::/^ Fr. negativus,
Latin.]
1. Denying; contrary to affirmative.
2. L^:ii-lying only the able.nce oſ loaiething. South.
3. Having the power to withhnid, though
no- to cotnpcl. King Charles.

NEGATIVE f.
1. A propofition by which ſomething is
denied. Milton.
2. A parricle of denial ; as, rot. Cl.wvJ.

NE'GATIVELY. ad. [t'lotn negative.]
1. With aenial ; in the torm tf denial
; not .'ihrmativ'ely. Boyle.
2. In form of ſpeech implying the abſence
of fomething. Hooker.

NEGOTIATOR. ʃ. [negoaateur^ Fr. from
negotiate,'\ One employed to treat with
others. ii'uift,

NEGO'TIATING. a. [from mgniate.]
Employed in ntgotiation.

NE^ORO. ʃ. [Spaniſh ; ncgrcy French ] A
blackmoore, Brown.

NEIF. ʃ. [jieji, Iſlandick ; neefy Scott.ſh.]
Fift.

To NEIGH. v. n. [hnassari, Saxon.) To
utter the voice of a horſe. Smith.

NEIGH. ʃ. [from the verb.] The voice of
an horſe. Shakʃpeare.

NEI'GHBOUR. ʃ. [nthjebuji, Saxon.]
1. One who hves near to another. Claren.
2. Qoc who lives in familiarity with another.Shakʃpeare.
3. Any thing next or near. Shakʃpeare.
4. Intimate \ confidant. Shakʃpeare.
5. [In divinity.] One partaking of the
fame nature, and therefore entitled to good
offires. Sprott.

To NEIGHBOUR. v. a. [from the noun.]
To adjoin to ; to confine on. Shakʃpeare.

NESS.
1. Attermination added to an adjective to
change it into a ſubliantive, denoting /?<2ic
or quality ; as, poiſonous, poiſonouſneſs j'from
nipj-e, Saxon.
2. The termination of many names of
places where there is a headland or pro-
.montory ;
Johnson's Dictionary 1756 @ whichenglish.com

N E U

montory; from nepe, Saxon. a headland ;
as Inverness.

Nest. ʃ. [n^j-r, Saxon.]
1. The bed formed by the bird for incubation. Deuterommy.
2. Any place where animals are produced. Berkley.
3. An abode ; place of reſidence. Shakſp.
4. A warm cJof'e habitation. Spenſer.
5. Boxes or drawers ; little pockets or conveniences.

To NEST. v. n. [from the noun.] To build
neſts. Jlozvef.

NE'STEGG. ʃ. [rejl and egg.] An egg
left in the neſt. Hudibras.

To NESTLE. 1'. H. [from nej}.'^ To ſettle ; to harbour. Bacon.

To NESTLE. i'. a.
1. To houſe, as ih a neſt. Donne.
2. To cheriſh, as a bird her young. Chapman.

NE'VER. ad^ [ne ever, naeppe, Saxon.]
1. At no time.
2. In no degree. South.
3. It ſeems in ſome phraſes to have the
Tenfe of an adjective. Not any. Matthew.
4. It is much uſed in compoſition ; as, nea/
friending, having no end. Milton.

NICh'E. j'.' [French.] A hollow in which
a ſtatue may be placed. Wotton.

NICK. ʃ. [nicke^ Teutonick, the twinkling
of an eye.]
3. Exaft point of time at which there is
neceirity or convenience. Suckling.
2. A notch cut in any thing.
3. A ſcore ; a reckoning. Shakʃpeare.
4. A winning throw. Prior.

To NICK. . a. [from the noun.]
1. To hit ; to touch luckily ; to perform
by ſome flight artifice. Hudibras.
s. To cut in nicks or notches.Shakʃpeare.
3. To ſuit, as tallies cut in nicks.
CatTiden.
4. To defeat or cczen. Shakʃpeare.

NICKNAME. ʃ. [nom de ni^ue, Freijch.]

NIG
A name given in ſcoff or contempt. Ben. Johnſon.

To NICKNA'ME. v. a.i To call by aa
opprobrious appellation. Denham.

To NI'CTATE. v. a. [niBo, Latin.] To
wink. Ray.

NIDE. ʃ. [tndus, Latin.] A brood : as, a
nide of pheaſants,

NI'DGET. ʃ. [corrupted from nithing or
niding.] Camden.

NIDIFICA'TION. ʃ. [nidificatio,hn\n..
The act of building neſts. Denham.

NIT'
1. To cut off by any flight means. Mortimer.
2. To blaſt ; to deſtroy before full growth. Arbuthnot.
4. To pinch as froſt. Shakʃpeare.
5. To vex; to bite. Spenſer.
6. To ſatirife ; to ridicule ; to taunt farcaſtically.
jijchaw,

NIP. ʃ. [from the verb.]
1. A pinch with the nails or teeth.
A^cham,
2. A ſmall cut. Shakʃpeare.
3. A blaſt. Sidney.
4. A taunt ; a ſarcaſm.

NITI'ER. ʃ. [from «//>.] A fathift.
Ajcham,

NI'PPERS. ʃ. [from »//>.] Small pincers.

NI'PPINGLY. ad. [from nip,'] With bitter
ſarcaſm,

NI'PPLE. ʃ. [nypele, Saxon.] > 1. The teat ; the dug. R^y'
3. The orifice at which any animal hquar
is ſeparated. Denhanj.

NI'PPLEWORT. ʃ. [Lawpjar.a.] A very
common weed.

NISI PRIUS. ʃ. [In law.] A judicial
writ, which lieth in caſe where the inqueſt
is panelled, and returned before the juliices
of the bank ; the one party or the other
making petition to have this writ for the
eaſe of the country. It is ſo called from
the firſt words of the writ, vifi apud talem
locum priui venen- 1.

NI'TRE. ʃ. [nitre, Fr. mtrum, Lat.] The
fait which we know at this time, under
the name of nitre or falt-petre, is a cryfr
talline pellucid, but ſomewhat whitiſh ſubſtance,
of an acrid and bittenſh taſte, imprelling
a peculiar ienit of co!dn«fs upon
the tongue. This fait, though it afiord',
ky means of fire, an acid ſpirit capable of
pwTolving almoſt every thing, yet maniteHs
no ſign of its containing any acid at
all in Its crude ſtare, Nure is of the number
of tlrfefalts which are naturally blended
in imperceptible particles in earths,
liones, as the particles of metals in their
ores. The earth from which nitre is made,
b'^th in Perlia and the Eaſt-Indies, is a
kind of yellowiſh marl found in the bare
cliff's of the fidsfs of kills expoled to the
Rorthein and eaſtern Wiods^ From this

NOB
marl the fait is ſeparated by water ; hni
the cryſtals into which it ſhoots, as we receive
them from the Eaſt-Indies,are ſmall,
imperfect, and impure. Earths of whatever
kind, moiſtened by the dung and excrement
of animals, frequently afford »/-
tre in large quantities. The earths at the
bottom of pigeonhouſes, and thoſe of ſtables
and cow-houſes, all afford nitre, on
being thrown into water and boiled. In
France, where very little n/'/r^ is imported,
they make it from the rubbiſh of old mortar
and plaifter of buildings. There is no
queſtion but a manufactory of nitre might
be eftabliſhed in England to as much advantage
as that of France. The natrum
or nitre of the ancients, is a genuine, native,
and pure fait, extremely different
from our nitre, and from all other native.
falts ; being a fixed alkali.

NORTH. ʃ. [nopS, Saxon.] The point
oppofuc to the lun in the meridian.Shakʃpeare.

NORTH. a. Northern. Numbers.

NORTHEAST. ʃ. [n.ordooj}, Dutch.] The
point between the north and eaſt. Arbuthnot.

NO'RTHERLY. a. [from zorth.^ Being
towards the north. Denham.

NO'RTHERN. a. [from north.] Being in
the north. Shakʃpeare.

NORTHSTA'R. ʃ. [northing par. [The
poleftar. Shakʃpeare.

NO'RTHWARD. a. [vorth and peaj\.D,
Saxon.] Being towards the north.

NORTHWARD. ʃ. ad. [north and

NO'RTHWARDS. ^ ps3ja&, Saxon.]
Towards the north. Shakʃpeare.

NORTHWEST. f. [north and .-weji.] The
point between the north and weſt. Brown.

NORTHWI'ND. ʃ. [vorth and w.'W.] The
wind that blows from the north. Milton.

NOSE. ʃ. [na-pe, nopa, Sax.]
1. The prominence on the face, which is
the organ of ſcent and the emunſtory-of
the brain. Locke.
2. The end of any thing. Holder.
3. Scent ; fagacity. Collier.
4. To lead by the Nose. To drag by
force : as, a bear by his ring. To lead
blindly. Shakʃpeare.
5. To thruji one''i NosE into the affairs of
others. To be a buſy body.
6. To put one^s NosE out of joint.] To
put one out of the atteſtions of another.

To NOSE 1'. a. [from the noun.]
1. To ſcent ; to ſmell. Shakʃpeare.
2. To face ; to oppoſe.

NO'TWHEAT. ʃ. [n^r and tuhcat.] Of
N o trwheat
there are two forts ; French, which
is bearded, and requireth the beſt foil, and
notwheat, ſo termed becauſeit is unbearded.

NOTWITHSTA'NDING. conj. This word
is properly a participial adjective, as it is
compounded of not and withſtanding, and
anſwers exactly to the Latin non ohjiante.]
1. Without hindrance or obſtruction from. Decay of Piety.
2. Although. Milton.
3. Nevertheleſs ; however. Hooker.

NO'TUS. f [Latin.] The ſouthwind. ikf/7.

NOVA'TION. ʃ. [novatio, Latin.] The
introduction of ſomething new.

NOVA'TOR. f [Latin.] The introducer
of ſomething new.

NOVEL. a. [novellui, Latin.]
1. New ; not ancient, King Charles,
2. [In the civil law.] Appendant to the
rode, and' of later <;naction, Ayliffe.

NOU'RISHMENT. ʃ. [nour,J.ment, Fr.]
1. That which is given or received, in orricr
to the ſupport or cncrsaſe of growth or
ſtrength ; food ; ſuſtenance. Newton.
2. Nutrition; ſupport of ſtrength. M/-'r.
3. Suftentationj ſupply of things needful. Hooker.

NO'URISHING. ʃ. The nurſe ; the nurſling. Spenſer.

NOTRITURE. ʃ. [nourriture,Tienih.] Ed
Illation ; in'biution. Spenſer.

To NOU'SEL. v. a. To nurſe up. Spenſer.

NOW. ad. [nu, Saxon.]
1. At this time ; at the time preſent. Tillotſon.
2. A little while ago. Shakʃpeare.
3. At one time ; at another time. Pope. .
4. It is ſometimes a particle of connexion ;
as, if this be true, he is guilty ; now this
is true, therefore he is guilty. Rogers.
5. After this ; fince things are fo, in familiar
ſpeech, L'Eſtrange.
6. Now and then ; at one time and another
; uncertainly. Dryden.

NURSE. ʃ. [nourrice, French.]
1. A woman that has the care of another's
child. Raleigh.
2. A woman that has care of a ſick perſon.Shakʃpeare.
3. One who breeds, educates, or protects, ,Shakʃpeare.
4. At old woman in contempt, hlackm.
^, The ſtate of being nurſed. Cleaveland,
6. In ctmpuſition, any thing that ſupplies
food. Walton.

To NURSE. nj. a. [wowrr/r, French.]
1. To bring up a child not one's own,. Exodus.
2. To bring up any thing young. Dryden.
3. To feed ; to keep ; to maintain. Addiʃon.
4. To tend the ſick.
5. To pamper ; to foment ; to encourage. Davies.

NU'RSERY. ʃ. [from nurſe.]
1. The act or office of nurſiag. Shakſp.
2. That which is the ob]zC(. of a nurJe's
care. Milton.
3. A plantation of young trees to be tranſplanted
to other ground. Bacon, Addiʃon.
4. Place where young children are nurſed
and brought up. Bacon,
5. The place or fit<ite where any thing is
foftered or brought up. Shakʃpeare.

NU'THOOK. ʃ. [nut and book.] A ſt ck with
a honk at the end. Shakʃpeare.

NU'TMEG. ʃ. [nut and muguec, Fr.]. The
nutrr.eg is a kernel of a large fruit not unlike
the peach, and ſeparated from that and from
its inve/iient coat, the nnce, before it is
ſent over to us ; except that the whole fruit
is ſometinnes ſent over in preſerve, by way of
ſweet-meat eras a curioſity. The nutmeg
as roundiſh, of a compact texture, and its
ſurface furrowed : it is of an extremely
agreeable ſmell and an aromatick taſte.
The tree which produces them is not unlike
our pear-tree in its manner of growth : its
leaves, whether green or dried, have, when

Johnson's Dictionary 1756 @ whichenglish.com

N Y S

bruiſed, a vtry fragrant ſmel! ; and the
trunk or bra/iche', r ut or broken off, yield
a red liquor like blt>d. //;//.

NUTSHELL. f. [nut and ſhell] Thi hard
ſubſtance that incloſes the kernel of the nut.Shakʃpeare.